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This is a hot topic because changes are coming – yet again.  The reason it’s become a hot topic is because of passenger abuse brought on by the extra baggage fees imposed by the airlines.  (Not that abuse hadn’t gone on before this.)

An empty airplane soon to be crammed full with passengers and cary-on baggage

An increase in baggage fees was announced in early January 2010 for tickets bought for travel within the US/Canada and Territories on or after the 5^th of January 2010 for travel after the 12^th January 2010.  The first checked bag will now cost $25.00 ($15.00 old fee).  The second bag is now $35.00 ($25.00 old fee).  (A fee reduction is available if you check your bags in on-line in advance, $23. and $32.00)  For international travel two checked bags are included in the ticket price EXCEPT the second bag in economy to Europe.  Make sure you check with your individual airline before booking or packing for a trip.  On many airlines, these fees are waved with Mileage Program status.  This is yet another reason why frequent travelers need to work on acquiring and maintaining Airline status.

Because of the originally imposed baggage fees and now the increase, passengers are abusing the carry-on policy because they are carrying on bags that are bigger than allowed.

On every one of my recent flights I have seen gross abuses of carry-on bags allowances mainly because airline staff doesn’t enforce it.  Passengers are bringing aboard garment bags that are bursting, plus a carry-on, and a personal item.

Under Seat Space for your Personal Carry-On Bag and this is the Exit Row!

Read on for the policy from United Airlines →

Here are the Delta Airlines Policy for Carry-On baggage:

All Delta passengers are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item that meet the criteria below. See Security Check-in for liquid and gel restrictions.

Size and Weight Restrictions

If your carry-on bag doesn’t meet these size restrictions it must be checked, and all checked baggage rules will apply. Your bag must:

Not exceed 45 inches (length + width + height), or 115 cm.

Fit easily in our SizeCheck® unit (approximately 22″x14″x9″, or 56x36x23 cm).

Fit in an overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you.

Personal Items

You’re allowed one personal item from this sample list:

• Purses, briefcases, camera cases, and diaper bags
• Laptop computers (can’t be checked and must be carried on)
• Items of a similar or smaller size to those above

Other Carry-on Items Allowed

You may also bring these items onboard. They do not count toward your personal item.

• Food items for immediate consumption
• Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or crutches
• One box or bag of duty free merchandise

Carry-on baggage policies for all United travel

For worldwide travel on any United or United Express flight, you may carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase or laptop computer. Your carry-on bag…

• must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin;
• should not be more than 9 x 14 x 22 inches (23 x 35 x 56 cm) or 45 linear inches* (114 linear cm); and
• may be required to travel as checked baggage if the bag cannot be safely stowed on a particular flight.

The following personal items are not counted toward your one bag and one personal item limit:

• Assistive devices (canes, crutches, etc.)
• Child safety seats for ticketed children
• Infant restraint devices (infant seat with or without stroller, front pouch or back carrier)
• Outer garments (coats, hats, etc.)
• Reading material (a reasonable amount)
• Umbrellas (one per passenger)
• Food and beverages to be consumed onboard
• One musical instrument not exceeding a size of 45 linear inches*
• A coat, jacket, or umbrella

• Please note that items must be stowed in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. They may not be stowed in the seat back pocket

With so many people not respecting and staff not enforcing the carry-on policies, you need to have a plan before boarding.  Short of tattling on passengers to staff (how tempting) you need to do the following to assure you’ll have space for your items:

Maximize your airline status before booking your ticket.  Check previous Blog Posts for tips on doing this.

At your terminal gate, get in line to board your flight well in advance.

Do not book a bulkhead seat.  There is not space in front of you to store any bags or personal items.  So, they will need to be stored in the overhead bins.

Once boarded, immediately store your items in the overhead bin.  After everyone is boarded and has stowed there carry-on, then remove your items you want with you from your carry-on bag.  But beware don’t turn your back!  We have seen passengers (creeps) jump up and slip their bag in when you’re not looking!  Can you say “confrontation”?

Of course, by now, everyone must know about the “3-1-1” liquid restrictions for carry-ons.  You can find the details HERE.

It may be worth it for you to travel with more outer garments than you need for the flight.  Just make sure that the garment has lots of pockets to store medications, electronic cords, portable external hard drives, jewelry, cameras, etc.  Also, make sure the pockets zip or snap shut so you don’t lose any items in transit.  You can maximize your allowances and work with or around any new restrictions imposed by the TSA or airlines.

Happy Tripping,

Carter

The Good Health Elixir To Go in Leak-Proof Containers

Now that you have the recipe for the Good Health Elixir, I wanted to share with you how to make the recipe while traveling.  Yes, I drink the elixir while traveling.  It becomes even more important because I’m expanding so much energy and working my body as much as ever.  My body is under a lot of stress and I’m eating foods I’m not used to eating at odd and irregular hours.

I pack the following items in my checked luggage:

• Green tea Powder (found in a well-stocked Asian Food store or Amazon.com)
• Ground Cinnamon (in original bottle or packet for security reasons)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (in pint jars)
• Lemon Juice (in small bottle or squeeze bottle)
• Baking Soda (in original small box)
• Fruit Pectin packets
• Empty Leak Proof Plastic Containers (found at a container store)
• Empty Liter Bottles of Water (For storing. See photo in previous post. Note: glass can be carried in a wine carrier)

Sometimes I don’t have enough room in my luggage for everything or I don’t want to have to declare the food products upon landing in a foreign country.  So, after landing, I go to a grocery store (bigger the better) for any addition items I need.  If you pack everything on the above list, then you will only need juice(s).  It may be surprising how hard it is to find unsweetened juices.  On my last trip to Spain, I could only find 100% pomegranate juice, which was fine.  I had to chase down lemon juice because it was not stocked with foods I’m used to.  Make sure you bring the pectin packages because they’re hard to find.

When traveling, chances are you don’t have access to a large bowl, so I wing it and eyeball amounts into my containers.  Be careful what order you add the ingredients.  Apple cider and baking soda can be extra foaming.  Add the juice to dilute first.

The small leak proof containers are a handy little way to carry around the 3-ounce servings of the elixir.  As the travel day progresses and you drink the elixir with your meals, rinse the container and fill with water to have on hand for a quick hydration.  I have used 8 oz. jelly jars as a container before.  They can break but they are sturdy and have leak proof lids.

That’s it, you’re good to go.  Have continued good health with the Good Health Elixir both home and away!

Happy Tripping,

Carter

Hey Trippers,

This isn’t a political blog and rarely will I ever go there.  I just returned from a six day trip to witness the Swearing-In of Barack H. Obama as the 44th President of The United States of America in Washington, District of Columbia.  What I can do is provide you a link to a photo gallery from the trip.  If you’re interested, have a peek HERE.

What I will share with you is my preparations.  When you plan a trip to a destination that will have more people visiting then any other time in history, you have to make extra special preparations.

Weather and as a result, clothing, was my biggest concern.  We knew that it was going to be outdoors, the temperature range could be between – 14C (7F) and about 10C (50).  It could be raining, snowing, or dry.

Walking was also a big concern because the Metro Underground train system was going to close stations. There could be unannounced closures because of the 2 to 5 million people visiting the city.  All it would take is someone to fall on the tracks (It happened) and then you’ll end up walking. I was in London attending the Millennium Celebrations and it was a huge fiasco (a story for another time).  I learned from it and applied my lessons to this trip.

The day of The Inaugural Ceremony roadways in and out were closed.  Coaches, Buses, Passenger Vans were only allowed in so far.  The National Mall was fenced off on all sides with temporary fences – starting the day of The Inaugural Kick-Off Concert two days before.  The public could go in an out freely but only at certain gates.  All this meant a lot of walking – miles of it.

Restaurants were busy.  At the popular ones, it was common to have to wait in a long time.  Fast food and Starbucks were mobbed – forget sitting down.

Accommodation was pretty well booked up months in advance. Long waits for Taxis and Cabs to get around.  Our hotel service was exceptional despite being full.  We booked our hotel a distance away from the action.  We wanted to be nearer the airport and yet close enough to walk to and from the District of Columbia Center – in case anything disastrous happened.

Museums were busy but no long lines until the day before and day of The Inauguration. We’re glad that we went a few days earlier.

The guided tours of the U.S Capital Building were available on demand in the days leading up to the The Inaugural Kick-Off weekend, which was very surprising given the amount of people in town.

You have the background, now here’s the preparations for the miles and miles of walking the streets, museums, and the hectares (acres) of the sights:

• Gortex covered well-cushioned running shoes by Adidas. (Fashion was not considered while spending hours outdoors).  I think the gortex waterproof coating kept in the heat.

• Foot Warmers – Oxygen activated pads that adhere to any part of your foot.  They last for up to five hours.  These were needed by everyone in our group except me because my shoes keep my feet warm.  This could be a circulation issue as well.

• Hand Warmers - Chemically activated little pillows that slip into your pocket or gloves and last up to 8 hours.  I brought a case with me and almost used everyone between the members of our group.

• Long Johns ( tights to wear under trousers) – made out of a moisture-wicking spandex skin tight material to keep in heat and wick out moisture.

• Double lined Trousers with many pockets – Many events did not allow back packs.  Okay, we had cases for our digital camera and video, but what about our other necessities?

• A Merino Wool Undershirt to keep warm.  It wicks moisture too.

• A Long John Thermal Top made of cotton.

• A shirt made of moisture-wicking material.

• An Eddie Bauer Rain-resistant Outer Jacket that gathered at the sleeves and the waist to hold in heat.

• Scarf to wrap around face and neck to protect from the wind chill.

• Gloves – double lined, rain-resistant, heat retaining, with enough space to accommodate the hand warmer.

• Hat, double-lined wool or fleece and long enough to stretch over my ear.  I prefer the Nike Hat Phones to listen to music on my iPod and to keep warm at the same time.  The iPod stores on the inside of the hat in a pocket – so no cords.  You may want to consider ear muffs.

• Extra Pockets around my waist (not a fannie pack!)- I bought a set of these brilliant little things at The Portobello Road Market in West London. They are made out of a khaki material and fit securely with velcro around your waist  It adds six extra pockets for you to fill.  The velcro-ed flaps and zippers keep everything in there safely.  I would not use them for to hide wallets or valuables.    I gave up searching for them on the internet, so I’ll just have to go back to the

• Adult Diapers – That’s right, diapers.  It reminds me of when Senator John McCain was asked what kind of underwear he wears while on the campaign trail.  His answer?  “Depends . . . .”  I came up with the idea when I was at The Inaugural Kick-Off Concert (U2, Beyonce, Usher, John Legend, Tom Hanks, Garth Brooks, Jamie Foxx, Steve Carell, Bruce Springsteen, Denzel Washington, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, etc. performed for us)  I was attended by over 500,000 people.  I arrived four hours early and had to stand in a tiny spot being abused from all sides as people tried to get closer, back to their spot, or had to go to the toilet.  Trouble was once you left, there was no way you could get back.  So, in addition to the four hours waiting, I stood another two hours for the show and the aftermath.  I couldn’t imagine what to do during The Inauguration Swearing-In Ceremony when there was supposed to be a couple million+.  So, I wore adult diapers and DIDN”T NEED THEM!  I arrived at 4:30AM with a few hundred thousand others, got as close as possible without a ticket, and waited for seven bitter cold hours for the ceremony to begin.  Once in position, it was too cold to worry about how close you were.  It was about staying warm.  We had plenty of room to get to and from the toilets.  I didn’t regret wearing the adult diapers because they kept me warm.

Hope some of this helps you prepare for hours and hours in the cold, walking around, with only a freezing cold ground to sit on, or a bench if you’re lucky.  I was thrilled to be there because the six days were a memory of a lifetime – if not an endurance test.  I’m glad I was prepared because it made it all that much more enjoyable and bearable.

Happy Tripping,

Carter

Hey Trippers.

As you well know, carry-on baggage and airline policies have changed dramatically over the past decade.  Security issues and finances have trumped passenger concerns across the board.

With passengers prevented from locking their baggage since 9/11, the carry-on becomes more important than ever.  Why bother buying the TSA approved locks anyway.  I have heard reports of them being opened, removed, not re-locked, and never to be seen again.  I never bother locking my baggage.  Knowing that baggage inspection is a necessary evil, I have focused my strategy on the importance of my carry-on baggage.

Carry on policies vary by airline and destination.  International and USA domestic allow larger sizes.  Intra-European carry on allowances are much smaller.  United Airlines Domestic carry-on requirements:

Carry-on baggage should not be more than 9 x 14 x 22 in. (23 x 35 x 56 cm) (length x width x height) or 45 linear inches* (114 linear cm).

United Airlines doesn’t say what the weight allowed is.  American Airlines allows a maximum of 40 lbs. (18 kg) including your second personal item.

Compare that to Luftansa, European based airline:

Each piece of carry-on baggage may not be larger than 21.7 in. x 15.75 x 8 in (55 x 40 x 20 cm) and may not weigh more than 17.6 lb. (8 kg). An exception are foldable garment bags. They count as hand baggage up to a size of 22.5 x 22.3 x 6 in. (57 x 54 x 15 cm).

Big difference.

I never pack valuables or electronics in my checked baggage.  I consider whatever is in my checked baggage will be available FREE to whoever has access.  So, here’s a list of valuables, medications, and electronics I always carry on the airplane.  It makes for quite a haul but is necessary.

Valuables: Watches, Jewelry, Electric Shaver, Electric Tooth Brush, Leather Belts

Electronics: Laptop, Laptop Cord, Spare Laptop Battery, Digital Camera, Battery, Battery Charger, Camera Lenses, Media Cards, Tripod. Cell Phone, Cell Phone Charger, Headphones, iPod, iPod Cherger, Plug Adapters, Electric current Transformer, USB Connector, Flash Drive, Video Recorder, Video Recorder input/output Cable, Video Recorder A/C Cord

Medication: Prescriptions (in the original labeled filled bottles), OTC Medications, Tubes of Antibiotic and Anti-fungal Medications

That’s quite a haul.  I pack my day bag empty in my checked baggage.  I pack my laptop and accessories in my personal bag that is allowed by airlines to take in the airline cabin.  Then, I pack whatever I feel I need to have that can’t be replaced or will be hard to replace.  Needless to say, it fills it to the maximum.  I don’t know what I will do if I have to fly Intra-Europe.  Presently, I have always flown “Internationally” in and out without having to break the itinerary and be considered “Intra-Europe”.  I would have to change my strategy to pack some accessories in my checked baggage (tripod, carry cases, belts, etc.).  And I would stuff my pockets.

Extra Bag Fees are a part of airline travel now.  Typical Domestic Economy Class Fees are $15.00 (€10.50) each way for the first bag and $25.00 (€17.50) for the second.  International.  Remember, this is if your bag isn’t overweight!  If it’s over weight, you’ll pay more than ten times that – each way!

I’ll pay the fees when on a dream trip or if I need to pack more.  However, if I’m on a budget or need to travel light, I will force myself to pack less.  In an effort to pack less in my checked baggage, I layer clothing to wear on an airplane.  I wear my long trousers (shorts under if need be), T-Shirt (Singlet) long sleeve shirt (short sleeve under), sweater over that, windbreaker, and an over coat.  You can remove the extras once aboard.

Hell no!  I won’t give up my electronics!  Take time to think your packing through.  That’s part of the Travel Planning I aalways write about.  When www.knowyourtrip.com goes public, you’ll be able to download packing lists and individual item descriptions of why or why not to pack them, along with more packing tips.

More later . . . . Happy Tripping,

Carter

Yes, that is a reference to the old Steve Martin Comedy Routine and Short Story “Cruel Shoes”.  You can check out his book here.  I have thought about his routine as I walked miles around France and Italy.  When one is a seasoned Tripper, you learn that your shoes are number one important accessory while exploring.  It can effect most of your day – everyday.  Blisters, corns, calluses, heel pain, calf pain, even back pain, and overall soreness comes to mind.

Most of the historic centers of France and Italy have cobblestones which can be like hiking on Hawaiian lava rock – barefoot.  In Italy, besides older women being allergic to gray hair (that’s for another post), they are slaves to foot fashion.  Sit in a cafe in a piazza on a Sunday and watch the elderly ladies in their fashionable Ferragamo high heels stepping cautiously from cobble to cobble praying they don’t break and ankle.

In Paris, they have a whole other problem and so will you.  The French women are smart enough to wear cute little flat shoes around town like this:

Now, you’re a head of the game if you wear these shoes around cobblestones.  But the Trippers in Paris have a whole other problem: Mutt Mines!  In Paris, the French do not pick up after their pooches.  It just doesn’t happen. You see all these fashionable attired French women walking their cute little dogs but when they walk past and you’re not looking – they’re dropping a Mutt Mine.  So, you have to look down virtually every step you take or – well – MUTT MINE EXPLOSION!  More here. But don’t click here!

I have a list of requirements that a Tripper’s Travel Shoes should meet:

• Break Them In First: Make sure you have already broken them in before you left on your trip.  No trial runs while on your trip!
• Black or Brown: The shoes should be black or brown for versitility, they don’t show dirt or scuffs or mutt mine explosions
• Do NOT Wear White: Do not where white sneakers, running shoes, tennis shoes, nursing shoes EVER – for too many reasons to write.
• Cushioned Shoes: Shoe Manufacturers have come up with dozens of options for fashionable, comfortable, and “foot health” friendly selections.  Find a good line of men’s shoes here.
• Two Pair Limit:  Unless you don’t have a problem with lugging a lot of luggage, you should be able to get by with two pairs – a comfortable dressy pair and a comfortable casual pair of walkers.  If you are an athlete or continue to train while you travel – you can make your second or even a third pair – a pair of running shoes.
• Flip Flops:  This is a gray area.  If you do bring them, you had better be bringing them to go to the beach or take a shower in them.  For your own safety, do not wear them on a city street.  All you’d need is to have someone step on your foot and break crush a toe!

Just for fun, listen to a bit of Steve Martin’s “Cruel Shoes” AFTER THE JUMP . . . . .

Cheers, Carter

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